The second is the long-range test, where we use the same procedure while putting the client 100 feet away from the router. For 802.11ac routers, we run these tests separately with a 802.11ac client and a 802.11n client.
Data throughput test
Power-line adapters require a much more straightforward test. Generally, these adapters come in a kit of two, which is the minimum amount needed to create the first power-line connection. For this test, we connect the host computer to a designated test router via a Gigabit Ethernet connection. Then, we connect the client computer to the same router via the power-line connection created by the two adapters. After that, we copy a data file of 1.24GB from the host to the client. Again, we normally do multiple trials until we determine a consistent score.
This test determines the actual real-world data rate of the routers Wi-Fi signal. The computer that hosts the test data, which is a 1.24GB file, is connected to the router via a network cable. Depending on the router, this connection is either Gigabit (1,000Mbps) or traditional Ethernet (100Mbps). After that, a single Wi-Fi client is connected to the router via its Wi-Fi network. If the router is a dual-band router, the Wi-Fi client is connected to each of its bands separately.
This determines the stability of the routers Wi-Fi signal. We have the router transfer a large amount of data back and forth between multiple wired clients using different Wi-Fi standards while monitoring the clients to see if any disconnection occurs. If we dont detect a disconnection after 24 hours, we continue the test for another 24 hours. If a router finishes a 48-hour stress test with no disconnection (meaning that it passes), we rate its Wi-Fi signal as excellent.
Dong NgoCNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs benchmarks. He now covers networking and storage, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
Router settings: We test all routers with the latest firmware 1 How CNET tests networking devicesavailable at the time of testing. Since not all routers offer the same settings and options, we test using the deult ctory settings with one exception: Wi-Fi network names (or SSIDs) are customized for each frequency band and are encrypted with the same WPA 2 standard and the same password (or encryption key). And for those devices that offer multiple settings for their Wi-Fi networks, we test with the optimal settings for each frequency band and each Wi-Fi standard. In this case, we report the most vorable scores.
A Cisco 802.11ac media bridge being used for a speed test.
Testing these devices means1 measuring the data speeds that they deliver among connected clients. For routers, we test only the speed of the Wi-Fi signals, while for power-line adapters, we test the data signal transferred through electrical wiring. For more on our testing process, the full details are described below.
Test system: We test routers in a network made of multiple connected clients. Most of the time, we use at least two PCs, one Mac, and an assortment of other Wi-Fi clients such as smartphones and tablets. If the networking vendors dont provide a Wi-Fi adapter with the router, we use a dual-band, three-stream Trendnet TEW-684UB adapter, which supports up to 450Mbps for each of the two 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, aduedu2315.typepad.comschool2001.typepad.com. for the speed test.
There are two main speed tests for Wi-Fi routers, the data throughput test and the stress test.
Currently, CNET reviews only home Wi-Fi routers that support Wireless-N (802.11n) or 5G Wi-Fi (802.11.ac) standards. Routers with older standards, such as the 8021.11g, are becoming obsolete.
Facebook is not playing nice with a new video app, Aereo improves live TV streaming on Roku, and Microsoft plans to go deeper with its Suce tablet lineup.
CNET editors talk to folks from Fitbit, Nest, and Leap Motion about how humans interact with this next generation of tech.,1 How CNET tests networking devices.
Wondering how routers and power-line adapters are tested for CNET reviews? Youre in the right place.
In the networking device category, CNET conducts performance tests only on Wi-Fi routers and power-line adapters. Simply put, these are the two types of devices for which it is easy to measure data rates in repeatable and meaningful ways. For more information on other aspects of home networking devices, check out this series on their basics.
The test is performed under two setup scenarios. The first is the close-range test, where the client is just 15 feet away from the router. To begin, we copy the test file from the host computer to the Wi-Fi client and determine the speed by dividing the test files size (in MB) by the number of seconds required for the job to complete. For consistency, we perform multiple tests.
Test environment: We test all Wi-Fi routers in the CNET Labs at our San Francisco headquarters. Though they lack the comforts of home, education ratings by state Floridas public schools 6th in Education Week rankings after lling out of top 10 last year our labs resemble a typical home environment with the presence of other unrelated Wi-Fi devices and electronics. Keep in mind that the data rate scores that we report in a CNET review represent our real-world tested numbers and may very well differ from any promised performance from either vendors or the respective Wi-Fi standard.
A router is the central gateway of a home network. Not only does it connect all devices together via network cables or Wi-Fi signals to form a network, but also it connects to the Internet via its WAN port, and it shares that connection with other devices. Power-line adapters, on the other hand, extend the local network even rther by turning a homes electrical wiring into network cables.
Stress test
